Bromsgrove man shares sober England match experience

Matt Guest spent the evening, Saturday, July 11, at a packed pub with friends watching England take on Norway.

The occasion marked a personal milestone in his journey to sobriety.

Mr Guest said: "I’ve always loved watching England and, in the past, a big tournament match would automatically have meant a prolonged drinking session.

"Years ago, I couldn’t have imagined being in that environment completely sober."

Instead, he enjoyed alcohol-free beers throughout the evening.

He said: "For me, having a cold alcohol-free beer still gives me that ritual of having a drink with my mates and watching the football.

"You have to find what works for you.

"Some people avoid pubs completely, particularly in the early days.

"I’ve found I can still really enjoy them."

As the night went on, he noticed a shift in perspective.

Mr Guest said: “You see people getting progressively more drunk. Some were struggling to stay awake and others had probably reached a point where they weren’t really taking the game in anymore.

“I’m not judging anyone because I was that person for years. It just made me reflect on what I was actually there for.

"I was there to watch England and spend time with my friends.

"I could still do both of those things sober."

Mr Guest said focusing on the occasion itself, rather than what he was not drinking, had helped change his mindset.

He said: “For years I thought alcohol enhanced big occasions. But if you’re too drunk to follow the game, falling asleep or can’t remember parts of the night, you have to ask yourself whether it really did.”

Lisa McNally, director of public health at Worcestershire County Council, said: "Major sporting events like the World Cup can be a great opportunity to bring people together, but they can also encourage us to drink more than we realise."

Support is available for anyone concerned about their drinking or looking to cut down.

Visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/alcohol for more information.